Correct Option
Organic farming is an agricultural system that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and genetically modified organisms. It relies on practices such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests. This approach promotes ecological balance, conserves biodiversity, improves soil health, and reduces environmental pollution, making it an ecofriendly practice. Schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) promote organic farming in India.
Incorrect Options
Shifting cultivation, also known as 'slash and burn' agriculture, involves clearing forest land by cutting and burning vegetation, followed by temporary cultivation. This practice leads to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, and increased carbon emissions, making it environmentally unsustainable in the long term.
The cultivation of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) often necessitates intensive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. While increasing productivity, this can lead to adverse environmental impacts such as soil degradation, water pollution from chemical runoff, depletion of groundwater resources, and the development of pesticide resistance in pests.
Growing plants in glasshouses (greenhouses) allows for controlled environmental conditions, which can optimize resource use for specific crops. However, it is generally energy-intensive due to requirements for heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation. While it can be efficient in certain contexts, it relies on artificial environments and often has a significant carbon footprint, which may not align with broader ecofriendly agricultural principles.